Himalaya is folding but already action is announced for next spring with focus on Annapurna. Last week brought interviews with Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog. In the pipe: a HumanEdgeTech Power Special coming up.

And more kids are joining the “Baptized by fire” tune. Jessica Watson, 16, left Sydney on October 18 to sail non-stop around the world.

Piantoni’s remains recovered Yuri Parimbelli, Adriano Greco and Marco Astori, assisted by Spanish Edurne Pasaban, Ferrán Latorre, Asier Izaguirre, two Sherpa and Swiss Jean Troillet retrieved Roby Piantoni’s remains from a crevasse at the base of Shisha’s south face before the body was carried by porters to the Nepalese border.

Annapurna: Miss Oh calls off Annapurna, for this time Oh Eun-Sun was finally forced back from Annapurna due to high winds. Other Korean climbers on the mountain also turned back. Oh Eun-Sun plans to return to Annapurna, her last 8000+ meters summit, in spring 2010.

Edurne Pasaban mulling a double-header “I’m definitely going to Annapurna in spring, but I’m also considering another attempt (my fifth) on Shisha during the same season,” Edurne stated at a press conference.

Annapurna 2010Piotr Pustelnik is headed back to Annapurna in his fifth attempt to summit his 14th 8000er. Another Annapurna veteran, 11, 8000er summiteer Serguey Bogomolov will be part of Piotr’s team. Also Portuguese Joao Garcia will try to complete his 14x8000er projects on Annapurna next spring and Spaniard Carlos Pauner will be there as well.

ExWeb interview with Ryan Waters In less than a month’s time Ryan Waters of Boulder, Colorado, and Norwegian Cecilie Skog will be skiing 1300 km unassisted, unsupported from Berkner Island to the South Pole, and weather and time permitting, go beyond the Pole. Coming from 8000-meter mountains, in an interview with ExWeb Ryan told Correne Coetzer why the poles and why he and Cecilie make a good team.

ExWeb interview with Cecilie Skog In August last year Cecilie lost her husband, Rolf Bae, while they were climbing K2. “The last 15 months have been very hard,” Cecilie said to ExWeb’s Correne Coetzer. “Rolf is gone. But not my dreams and I hold on to those dreams really tight. I still dream about sleeping in tents, journeys, blowing wind, and moments that make me feel really alive. I am really glad that I am going to have a white Christmas this year.”

Japan roundup: Nobukazu Kuriki’s solo Everest climb ended at about 7,700m. Yasushi Yamanoi called off Kula Kangri’s north face due to high avalanche risk but reached 6,500m on Karjan peak. Kazuya Hiraide and Kei Taniguchi are in Tibet, hoping to climb a new route on Gauri Shankar’s east face (7134m).

Nives Meroi sounds off The usually quiet Nives Meroi has put up a new personal website with general information and multimedia files about her expeditions, but also selected articles about climbing issues.

Korean Alpine News – now in English The Korean Alpine Federation has published the first English version of the “Korean Alpine News” hoping to promote Korean climbers and their achievements among the international climbing community with complete, accurate information.

Himalaya wrap-up: Nepal 7000ers SummitClimb are attempting Baruntse, and Peak Freaks are advancing on Pumori South Ridge. “We used to do training on Ama Dablam but it doesn’t sit well with us anymore,” said Tim Rippel. Other attempts involve the Anthamatten brothers on Jasemba (7350 m), Robert Jasper for Pumori, Ama Dablam and Cholatse, and several more teams on Ama Dablam.

Patagonia Ice Cap update Wading through icy water and crawling through dense vegetation, Olaf Rieck and Georg Sichelschmidt carried their gear to Jorge Montt Glacier and said they could not have imagined how difficult it would be.

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